The Port of Sorel is a compulsory pilotage area. Vessels are, however, exempted from compulsory pilotage when confronted with an emergency like a fire. In such circumstances, vessels may perform undocking manoeuvres without a pilot on board. In this case, the vessel had to move away from the wharf to give another tanker the room it required to get under way. Because the master had called for a tug to perform these manoeuvres, the Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA) considers that the presence of a pilot was compulsory on board the LEBRAVE even though a mooring line had been left lashed to mooring bitts on the wharf and the main engine was not used. It is agreed, however, that vessels may, if necessary, move along berths without a pilot on board provided that they do so using winches rather than the main engine. According to the LPA, the manoeuvres performed by the LE BRAVE are considered a movage within the meaning of section 2 of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority Regulations where the term is defined as follows: Movage means the moving of a ship within a harbour, whether the ship is moved from one berth to another or is returned to the same berth, but unless a pilot is employed does not include the warping of a ship from one berth to another solely by means of mooring lines attached to a wharf, the shore or a mooring buoy. (dplacement) As the financial situation of the company chartering the tanker LE BRAVE was precarious, the master decided to perform these manoeuvres himself to avoid pilotage charges.Analysis The Port of Sorel is a compulsory pilotage area. Vessels are, however, exempted from compulsory pilotage when confronted with an emergency like a fire. In such circumstances, vessels may perform undocking manoeuvres without a pilot on board. In this case, the vessel had to move away from the wharf to give another tanker the room it required to get under way. Because the master had called for a tug to perform these manoeuvres, the Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA) considers that the presence of a pilot was compulsory on board the LEBRAVE even though a mooring line had been left lashed to mooring bitts on the wharf and the main engine was not used. It is agreed, however, that vessels may, if necessary, move along berths without a pilot on board provided that they do so using winches rather than the main engine. According to the LPA, the manoeuvres performed by the LE BRAVE are considered a movage within the meaning of section 2 of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority Regulations where the term is defined as follows: Movage means the moving of a ship within a harbour, whether the ship is moved from one berth to another or is returned to the same berth, but unless a pilot is employed does not include the warping of a ship from one berth to another solely by means of mooring lines attached to a wharf, the shore or a mooring buoy. (dplacement) As the financial situation of the company chartering the tanker LE BRAVE was precarious, the master decided to perform these manoeuvres himself to avoid pilotage charges. The vessel had been at wharfside for some time without a master on board. A master on leave was sent for in order to move the vessel to allow another tanker to depart. To avoid pilotage charges, a mooring line was left on the wharf at the bow, and the main engine was not used. Only one tug was used to perform the manoeuvre. The winds blowing from the north-east at approximately 20 knots drove the tanker upstream. During the manoeuvres to return to the wharf, the LE BRAVE struck the Turcotte Bridge. The master took account of the company's financial situation and adopted an economical rather than a practical solution. The Port of Sorel is a compulsory pilotage area. Whenever a vessel employs a tug to perform wharfside manoeuvres, the LPA considers that there must be a pilot on board.Conclusions The vessel had been at wharfside for some time without a master on board. A master on leave was sent for in order to move the vessel to allow another tanker to depart. To avoid pilotage charges, a mooring line was left on the wharf at the bow, and the main engine was not used. Only one tug was used to perform the manoeuvre. The winds blowing from the north-east at approximately 20 knots drove the tanker upstream. During the manoeuvres to return to the wharf, the LE BRAVE struck the Turcotte Bridge. The master took account of the company's financial situation and adopted an economical rather than a practical solution. The Port of Sorel is a compulsory pilotage area. Whenever a vessel employs a tug to perform wharfside manoeuvres, the LPA considers that there must be a pilot on board. The tanker LE BRAVE struck the Turcotte Bridge in the Port of Sorel while performing manoeuvres to let the tanker L'ORME NO.1 out, because the wind drove her athwart and upstream on the Richelieu River. The tug attached to her starboard quarter was caught between the vessel and shore. To avoid pilotage charges, the master had tried to perform these manoeuvres without using the main engine.Causes and Contributing Factors The tanker LE BRAVE struck the Turcotte Bridge in the Port of Sorel while performing manoeuvres to let the tanker L'ORME NO.1 out, because the wind drove her athwart and upstream on the Richelieu River. The tug attached to her starboard quarter was caught between the vessel and shore. To avoid pilotage charges, the master had tried to perform these manoeuvres without using the main engine.